“A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself. ” - Joseph Campbell
Everyday thousands of soldiers risk their lives to ensure our continued freedom. Whether we support the deployment of our troops to dangerous war-riddled countries or not doesn’t change the fact that they’re there, putting their lives on the line, making sure we have a safe country in which we feel secure from terrorism. One of our SENSA Customer Service Representatives recently informed us that her Son-in-Law worked with the Bomb Unit, diffusing bombs all over Afgahnistan with the help of his four-legged pal Cody. After finding this out the SENSA team and Customer Service department flew into action collecting over $500 worth of DVD’s, stationary, Cup-O-Noodles, candy bars, toiletries, dog treats, and other fun things we knew the soldiers and their dogs would love for their care packages. It’s the least we could do to thank the men, women, and dogs for the ultimate sacrifice. Just look at all the love…
Interested in contributing? Check out these organizations that are dedicated to putting smiles on our soldier’s faces:
We hope our care packages help to bring a little sunshine into these soldier’s lives and more importantly, we hope everyone, man, woman, and dog, makes it home safe soon!
Now that fall’s just around the corner, we have a chance to slow down on our workout regime and give our body a much needed rest as we prepare to bundle up in long sleeve shirts, winter pants, and heavy jackets right? WRONG!! Stop right there! Just because pool and beach season is coming to an end, doesn’t mean we get to push our fitness goals aside! Don’t forget the long list of holidays that are upon us, starting with delicious Halloween (I’m gonna sprinkle Sensa over my favorite “bite-size Crunch bar”!) and ending with New Year’s toast. This is the time to become proactive with your fitness instead of reactive after you’ve gained weight.
Fall is actually a perfect time for exercising…not too hot, not too cold! Crisp, clear mornings that invite you out for a nice early walk loaded with fresh oxygen and the smell of autumn leaves in the air. Usually around this time every gym in the country introduces an innovative list of fitness classes and programs to help you stay motivated throughout the Holiday season.
Here are some fall fitness tips that are easy to follow and will provide you with great results that will help burn off those holiday cakes and pies.
- WALK MORE! Let’s make a deal and ALL park our cars further from the front door of anywhere we go. For instance, when you arrive at the grocery store or shopping mall choose a parking space that will add an extra 2 minutes of walking. Just think of how many times you park your car each day! Those extra minutes will add up!
- TAKE THE STAIRS! Forget the elevators or escalators! An extra flight of stairs will tone up your booty and legs, while burning a good number of fat calories!
-GET A PEDOMETER! Want to feel like those steps are counting for something? Get a pedometer to count them for you. According to CBSNews.com, pedometer wearers increased their physical activity by 2,000 steps and buned about 100 calories more than people who didn’t wear one. 2,000 steps equals a mile. Challenge yourself to walking 10,000 steps a day and watch the pounds melt away. Cop one at any major retailer nationwide.
- PICK A NEW CLASS! If you are a group exercise participant, try picking a class you haven’t taken before. Push yourself a little further each time by starting with a beginning aerobics class and work your way up to a higher intensity class like spinning. Your body will appreciate the changes and you will definitely see the results!
Defense is always the best offense, when it comes to weight loss. Don’t wait until the New Year to resolve to be healthy, get healthy now! Remember, consistency and dedication will help you achieve all your goals!!!
Enjoy the last days of summer and share with us what your Fall Fitness goals are!
I must admit: I am a huge proponent of exercise as the best way to lose weight fast, gain energy and generally be a more balanced person. If I am tired, I work out. If I am starting to come down with a cold, I hit the gym. If I am stressed, agitated, angry or nervous, I tie my running shoes and run until my physical exhaustion renders my mental distractions insignificant. Lately I have been more conscious of how much I take my fitness for granted. I see how many people are plagued with excess weight, injuries or physical conditions that prevent them from being physically active, so instead of focusing on fitness today, I have decided to focus on an amazing dietary catalyst that doesn’t get as much attention as it should: Greek Yogurt.
Greek-style yogurt, also known as strained yogurt, often blends into the vast array of yogurt brands on the supermarket shelves, but I assure you, it is quite different! Depending on the variety, it can have up to five or six times the protein content of regular yogurt, thus keeping you fuller for much longer, which helps you to lose weight faster. It also can have more calcium, which is a vital component of our diet, especially for ladies! Most brands of GY do not contain high-fructose corn syrup or artificial sweeteners, which are often overlooked but nonetheless are harmful alternatives to sugar that are frequently found in regular yogurt. Lastly, Greek yogurt contains active bacterial cultures that promote intestinal health and improve lactose intolerance. Because plain GY has a sour taste, it is a perfect healthy alternative to sour cream! Try mixing greek yogurt with fruit, honey, granola or peanut butter to sweeten it up and create a high-protein, healthy and tasty snack. If you don’t eat meat, it is a great source of protein for you. If you eat it as a late-morning snack, you will soon see that your lunch portions become half of what they used to be!
My sister is the person who inspired my passion for GY, not only because she eats it every day but because she works for a Greek beauty brand called Korres that promotes the multifaceted benefits of yogurt as a vital element in their skincare products. Yogurt increases moisture levels in the upper layers of skin without inciting additional oil production, its high content of minerals and vitamins provides antioxidant protection and reduces visible signs of aging, it nourishes and restructures the top layers of the skin and it also softens skin while refining pores and providing a mild anti-bacterial effect.
In my opinion, this amazing food does not get the attention it deserves, so I wanted to give it some love! Look for any of the following brands of GY at your local supermarket and enjoy the benefits of this wonderful food!
Voskos Chobani Fage
Oikos Trader Joe’s Brand
A Visit with Doris Sellers, an Original SENSA® Cowgirl
Last week Carter, President of IB Studios, and I had the opportunity to go visit at her home in Twentynine Palms, CA and boy did we have fun! Let me start off by telling you a little about Doris. She is a fabulous Sensa Success stories who have lost 45lbs with SENSA®!
Doris had been thin all of her life until she reached her mid 40’s. She said the weight started to creep on and she didn’t want to be a fat 50 year old so she tried everything! The weight just wouldn’t stay off. During her late teens she got involved in roping and riding horses, which quickly became one of her greatest passions in life. As she got older and the weight kept coming on it became harder for her to get motivated to get out on the horses and do what she loves to do. At her highest point, there wasn’t any room left on her gun belt to loosen it up and that is when she knew she had to do something about her weight. It was also right before her 60th birthday when she decided to cancel a trip because nothing fit that she decided enough is enough.
Her husband was the one who introduced her to SENSA®, and urged her to try it. Within two weeks of using SENSA®, he noticed that she wasn’t eating as much and that her jeans were fitting a bit more loosely. She continued on Sensa and lost 45 lbs in 6 months!
Now she is looking better than ever and back in the saddle! Even her husband, has lost 18 lbs using SENSA® AND her daughter Nicole has lost 15 lbs with SENSA®. We had the chance to visit with her too but that will be saved for another time.
Below are two videos, the first one is of Doris, the rodeo champ herself. The second video is of Carter taking a shot at shooting; I’ll have to say not bad for a Texan who now resides in California and hasn’t been on a horse in the last 20 years.
I know I, like many, struggle with transitioning back into a physically active week. After a relaxing weekend, I find difficulty in jumping back into my weekly exercise regimen. Recently this has just resulted in me writing off my Mondays….that is that magical game I oh so enjoyed as a child resurfaced in my life…KICKBALL. Like kickball, there are numerous forms of group exercise to help you ease back into an active week.
Flickr user: Bob B. Brown
Unless I’m playing basketball, exercise generally becomes an isolating activity. And while I enjoy the time to reflect and let out some of my frustrations, I think a balance with more sociable forms of exercise is healthy. A few coworkers and I found a local league through WAKA (World Adult Kickball Association) in Venice Beach, California. Only two weeks into my new kickball league, I’m loving the group exercise and the overall experience. Well…except for the competitive teams that have clearly have spent way too much time preparing the 14 cheers they obnoxiously yell throughout the game. If you’re also interested in rekindling your love with kickball, I recommend you check out WAKA’s web site – they have leagues nationwide, so I’m sure you’ll be able to find a suitable one. All teams are co-ed, so it’s a great opportunity to make some new friends and build camaraderie with your co-workers. And……Each league has a designated post-game bar for beverages and snacks (on which we of course sprinkle our SENSA ).
If kickball doesn’t sound like it’s for you, here are some recommended types of group exercise to keep you sociable and exercising:
Hiking – Get yourself out of the house and on the trails on those pretty summer days! Locate a trail in your area
Group running – I’m not shy about how much an advocate for running I am. However, I must admit I’ve fallen off the wagon lately. So, I’m seeking support from our friend Kardio Kate. Beginning this Thursday, I’ll be joining her and the SoCal Coyotes for a 3-8 mile run (I’m shooting for closer to 3) through the Santa Monica Mountains! Learn more about the SoCal Coyotes
Ultimate Frisbee – this game’s really surged in popularity in the younger demographic (particularly in the university culture). But, that doesn’t mean it’s not for everyone. How can you resist a game that’s so friendly in nature that it doesn’t require a referee? Known for its Spirit of the Game, ultimate Frisbee has a great sense of sportsmanship yet still offers competitiveness and fantastic cardio!
Here’s hoping you find a form of group exercise just right for you! And then perhaps Mondays won’t feel so much like…well…Mondays.
Cheers,
Brian
Posted in Main at August 24th, 2010 by Guest Blogger | 4 Comments »
Its award season in the land of Hollywood! Time to get ready for beautiful designer gowns, best and worst dressed lists, and hours of Pre-Award Show television. The festivities were kicked off by the Breakthrough of the Year Awards on Sunday August 15, 2010 at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood to celebrate extraordinary talent in multiple fields of excellence including film, TV, sports, music, technology, social media, and the arts. SENSA had the pleasure of sponsoring a celebrity filled award show and reception to give A-Listers such as Annette Benning, Sofia Vergara, Dermot Mulroney, and SENSA® Spokeswoman Patti Stanger a sneak preview of SENSA® QUENCH while they sprinkled SENSA® on Sprinkles Cupcakes. Check out the event pictures…
Need a quick workout that you do at home? Look no further! We’ve found some of the best at home workouts out there for busy people like yourselves.
While most of us want a svelte, perfectly toned body, when it comes down to it, we usually have more excuses than motivation and action. Any of these sound familiar“I’m too tired”, “the gym’s too far away”, I don’t have time”, or my favorite, “I’m too fat to workout”…huh? I don’t understand that one. Don’t get me wrong, I’m just as bad. I work across the street from my gym and manage to find any excuse under the sun to avoid working out, yet, I cry about my love handles and double chin. So I’ve done some research and found some great resources for people like me, who would rather drive nails through our foreheads than workout at the gym, to get in a quick workout that includes cardio and strength training with little or no equipment, and on our own terms. Intrigued? Me too, read on….
SENSA’s own Kardio Kate has a 19 minute routine that gets your blood circulating and targets your abs all in one. Using your own body weight, you get a quick workout that’s part strength training, part cardio, and a little bit of yoga, in a fraction of the time it would take you to break into a sweat at the gym. This heat-pumping at home workout is made for beginners like me with little space, time, and the need to ease into a routine that is challenging, yet simple.
Fitsugar.com-No machine or gym membership required! Throw on those workout clothes and try this fun, yet challenging high-impact 30 minute at home workout tonight! Fitsugar dreamed up this workout herself and now swears by it. Its interval training at its best, keeps your body guessing so you won’t plateau and best of all, it’s on your own terms.
About.com-Fitness buff and personal trainer Paige Waehner takes you on a step by step, 25 minute cardio blast that will increase your heart rate, rev up your metabolism, and best of all, doesn’t require any equipment. Time shouldn’t be an issue with this workout, as this quick workout is shorter than most people’s commute in the mornings and highly effective. It’s on the intermediate-advanced side and she focuses heavily on plyometrics (jumping) and jogging to keep the heart elevated. Check her out!
Good Housekeeping Magazine-This at home workout is great for beginners who need to become acclimated to a fitness routine and are somewhat embarrassed to go to the gym. The focus is on the abs and lower body strength training with some upper body toning sprinkled in. Remember, strength training your largest muscle group, the lower body, will help burn more calories faster.
eHow.com- Want to burn 1,000 calories a day or learn how to get rid of that double chin without going under the knife. eHow has hundreds of how-to videos on their website with quick workouts for just about any body part. Although most of the videos are set in a gym, you can always modify them for your own at home workout needs.�
Remember to consult your physician before starting any workout regime. When you get back a clean bill of health, start out slow at 3 times per week, and build up to working out every day. Don’t forget to warm-up, cool-down, and stretch those newly worked muscles to avoid cramping. Exercise is an essential part of your day that you need to make time for. I know you’re busy people with children, pet, and careers, but if you don’t take care of yourself, who will? Stay fit and don’t forget to sprinkle, sprinkle, sprinkle!
Hold the Crunches! Get flatter abs, no sit-ups needed!
Every movement we make engages our core, so it is important to have strong stomach muscles, the side effect of flatter abs is always welcome too, right! Rather than doing a bazillion crunches every day, start from the inside out. The drawing in maneuver, which is essentially sucking your stomach in, is one of the most important core exercises to master, and one that most of us totally neglect. It is easy to do, and helps to re-train the deep core muscles. You can perform this while seated, laying down or during exercises.
Simply pull your belly button in and towards your spine while exhaling. It should feel like you are trying to get your belly button to reach all the way to your back. You should physically see and feel your waist line size decrease. Hold for 10 seconds and then release slowly. Repeat 10 times. When doing abdominal exercises, try simultaneously performing the drawing in move for added effectiveness. Sometimes I even do this while stuck in traffic!
Choose 3-5 core exercises that you can do up to 6 days a week. Continually mix up your routine though to target different muscles. For example, you can try a pilates or yoga position while contracting and relaxing your core muscles.
Here are some links to check out that include some great core ideas that are outside of the crunches box!
As you know, we love everything Patti – not only do we love that she lost 20 pounds with SENSA®, but her wit and helpful tips about finding love have made her a household name! We want to keep you SENSA® fans posted with the latest in Patti news – and if you aren’t following Patti Stanger on Twitter or Facebook, you should definitely start!
Nothing comes easy these days and it seems like the workload keeps getting bigger and bigger. Well one of the major causes of weight gain is stress. We, as Americans, run busy lives from the moment we wake up until the minute we close our eyes. Managing stress can be stressful in itself especially if you work a 9-hour day, have a family and/or pets at home and still manage to maintain a life.
Mashable had an article showcasing 6 gadgets that could help de-stress your life at work. Check out the 6 office gadget for getting fit at work article to see what all ranting and raving is about. Our own Kardio Kate uses the GAIAM Balancing Ball here at Sensa Headquarters as well as a couple other of our employees too!
One of the most important lessons you can learn early in life is too figure out how to handle stress. Life is too short and it shouldn’t be spent freaking out over documents that needed to be sent out or a deadlines that have to be met. Having a healthy body, mind and soul should be your first priority and the rest will fall into place. Once you are in a happy place, your work, responsibilities and commitments will be a piece of cake.
The key to a successful, healthy life is to be stress free and enjoy it, this applies ito anything you do whether it be weight loss goals, a promotion/new job, starting a family etc.
If you are stressed at work and want to keep in shape try out one of these gadgets and see how it works for you…the treadmill may be a stretch
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